Idol Needs Simon: Scotty McCreery

Showing posts with label Scotty McCreery. Show all posts

Thursday, April 28, 2011

6 Results Show – Commentary

| Group Performances | Fan Poll Results |

What if Ryan had asked Simon, "It seems like you were a bit nicer last night in your judge's critiques, is there anything we should know?"
You got a seven figure contract for questions like this? I'm neither nice nor mean in my critiques, I'm quite simply honest. What do developing stars need more than anything? Honesty, Ryan. They need to be told when they're terrible and when they're brilliant. When the star quality hits the stage, someone should say so. If my comments seemed more supportive, it might be a produce of eliminating those where were ghastly from the competition. This season, despite all the hype, come finalists who were actually terrible. I don't see many of them going on to anything even remotely related to music. We are finally down to a group that can sing and could be the next American Idol.

Running Commentary:

What was the point of the Brit Week send off – it was pure fluffery.

The Carole King Medley - this was simply an atrocious choice like choosing to be stuck in an elevator in Coral Gables

No offense to the creative teams behind the Ford Music Videos - but tonight's was relatively pointless.

Wow to the Crystal Bowersox performance – it's sad to see she's gone down the country road right into irrelevancy.

The AT&T® questions of the Idol finalists? If these were the best questions submitted, they shouldn't have bothered. They were just plain dull and self-indulgent. Clearly , they were more of a plug for the concept ofthan they were of any interest to anyone. Now, I'll be there were some interesting and relevant questions in the mix.

Result Revelations
Haley is safe! 1 point for America.
Why toy with Scotty, surely he's safe.
James is safe! 2 points for America.
Lauren is safe! 3 points USA.
Results are in random order.
Jacob is safe.
Clearly, it's Casey who will be gone.

Casey Abrams was announced as the one to be eliminated.

With all due respect to Casey's musicality, this was a long-overdue. 6 points for America. They made the right call.

It is just a shame that the true bottom 3 were not revealed. It certainly wasn't Scotty. My guess is it was Jacob and Lauren.

Casey's parting shot on the kitchen counter in the mansion standing and kicking stuff off was the sort of vintage odd boggery that became his signature and his downfall. Too bad, old chap, the immaturity finally took its toll.

Top 6 Performance Show – Intro

What if Ryan asked Simon, "Would you say there is a frontrunner at this point in the top 6?"
I think it's obvious that this crop is strong now that most of the weaker competitors are eliminated. Unfortunately, I'd say there are really only two left who have what it takes to carry the torch and those two are James and Scotty. The others are too quirky like Casey or immature like Lauren. My prediction for the final three are Haley, James, and Scotty. I think James and Scotty will split the votes. It's difficult to say who will win it all, but certainly Casey is probably next to go. The performances tonight could make all the difference in the world.

Top 6 Performance Show – Lauren & Scotty

"Up on the Roof" by Carole King
It was cute, not overly memorable. Scotty's got the final three in the bag, but this won't have helped Lauren much.

Top 6 Performance Show – Scotty

Solo "You Gotta Friend" by Carole King
Do you know the term, "romantic sensibility"? Scotty, that's the technical term for the chills you get in your spine when something really moves you. That performance was the first one of the season that I felt those chills. Absolutely 100% solid gold. Randy was dead on with the dangers of letting the notes fall off, but your performance was exactly what you needed to do at this point in the competition. Brilliant.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

7 Results Show – Commentary

| Group Performances | Fan Poll Results |

What if Ryan had asked Simon, "What did you make of all the controversy over last night's show?"
What controversy?
"You know, the kiss viewed round the world and certain colorful language?"
Ryan this is show business. It's live television. This isn't a show for six year olds. But, actually, the kiss was amiss. I thought it was gratuitous and unnecessary. In my world, it put Casey automatically in the bottom three if not sends him home even if he wasn't the worst performance. It's like an inappropriate swan song. You have to hand it to Jennifer for taking this affront so well.

I'd also like to say that James's performance was the first one I could highly recommend people pay to download from iTunes®. It was something not to be missed.

Casey is safe? Wow, that's stunning. I would definitely have put him in the bottom three. As for Jacob, that was probably to be expected.

Stefano to the bottom three quite expected.

I will make the wager now, that unfortunately, Haley will be in the bottom three, not Scotty.

One of the things that's so nice about this season's contestants is they way they have been taking their blows. They are so classy.

It will be sad if Jacob goes home because of technological glitches. Nonetheless, they both have gone farther than anyone could have predicted.

Stefano's ousting was really to be expected in some ways. indeed, though he will be missed. What was powerful to me was James's response. It is clear that these contestants have bonded in ways we've not really seen in past seasons. It's endearing and speaks to the character of these young people. Unfortunately, somebody needs to wake them all up and remember this is a signing competition, not a love fest. The competitive edge is going to go to those who, without being arrogant, seize confidence and out perform their best friend.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Top 7 Performance Show – Scotty

Scotty McCreey Guide to Holding a Microphone
Brilliant, clever and smug. It was nice to see that Scotty's not taking himself too seriously.

Scotty McCreery performing LeAnn Rimes's "Swingin'"
Finally, some useful criticism from your fan club up here on the judging panel. Scotty, you won't grow if you aren't given honest criticism. I agree with everyone, the song choice was horrific. At this point in the competition, you need to prove you can break out of your routine. With the library of songs from which to choose, you should have found something that wasn't country and put your own brand on it, or you should have gone the road less travelled and done something totally different. What we had here was like Randy said, totally boring.

Afterthoughts
What if Ryan asked Simon, "Has Scotty peaked too soon?"
Scotty hasn't peaked yet, Ryan, what are you talking about. This is the same person we've seen week after week. For some of us, it's like going back to the 1950s to a guest appearance of Scotty McCreery on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand". We've seen the microphone tricks and the Alfred E. Neuman eyebrows all before. The good news is, you've built a following, that will keep in you the top four or five for next week. But if you don't do something different, something daring, well, you might never peak and prove you are the next big star. You've got start quality, no doubt, but to fill a theatre and to sell records, you've got to push that to the next level.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

8 Perform – Who's Going Home Poll Results

Fan Poll Result for Week 8 – Who's Going Home?

Looks like the fans got it wrong as they predicted Haley. Better luck next time.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

8 Results Show – Group Performances

Lauren & Scotty
Lauren lacked a bit of focus, but Scotty showed a more playful side. Overall It wasn't terrible.

Haley & Casey
While they played off each other well, their voices didn't get. I didn't get it. Haley was by far the better of the pair.

Paul, James, Jacob, and Stefano
Jacob was off key for half the first song. Everyone, however, shined together well for "Mrs. Robinson". James and Paul, especially stood out.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

8 Perform – James

Well, the producers definitely saved the best for last this week. You are saving the show's rating this season, James. There is no more complete performer in this year's competition. You are this season's Adam Lambert – actually rocking the house. Zakk Wylde was a special part unlike so many of the stage-cluttering messes we've witnessed this evening. If you want to win though, James, you've got to take a few risks the next couple of weeks. You and Scotty may be facing off in the finale, but he will edge you out if you cannot show another dimension or two. I have always thought you were the guy to beat, and I stand by that for another week. Great job, keep it up!

Afterthoughts
What if Ryan asked Simon, "You've faulted others for failing to take advice and then you love what James has done?"
That's the whole point of advice. You listen and you learn and you act. There's an art to following advice. You have to have confidence in yourself to follow what's good and ignore what's bad. Most importantly, if you have something good going, you can stay true to it. It's the difference between Casey and James. Casey doesn't have a good thing going, James has an amazing thing going. Now, I'd still say to James again, he's got to do a simple, no tricks, no gimmicks, no fire, sit on a stool and tear our hearts out moment performance in my book to win and not just to win but to launch a career. At his age, with his talent, with his emotional comprehension of the music, he could be a huge, huge star. He's going to need to break free a little from his reliance on this affection for heavy metal and screeching – sorry, but he's bigger than that. I believe he could deliver one of the most moving songs of all time. I saw it in him last week. He is stunning.

8 Perform – Scotty

My first comment is that whomsoever decided to populate the stage and consequently your rendition with all that extraneous commotion and vocal pollution doesn't get the point of this competition. Not only was that a tremendous song choice for you, but Randy and I finally agree, Scott, you are a truly rare talent. I cannot say you've got pop star talent, but you've got more stage presence than our previous country idol winners added together, with all due respect to Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks. You're a little like a time warp, but you are brilliant.

Afterthoughts
What if Ryan asked Simon, "Can anybody beat Scotty?"
That's a stupid question, Ryan, come on. Of course, someone can beat him. Anyone still in the competition can beat him if they do the right things. If the panel of judges would give the others something to work with to grow. Scotty is great. He's a baby Andy Williams or George Straight all in one package. But, is he vulnerable, sure, he could trip up next week trying to do what everyone tells him and that's break out and do something off the cuff. It could hurt him to deviate too much from his comfort zone.